Synth EP Review: “Pixel Noir’’ by Jessy Mach & Russell Nash

Jessy Mach & Russell Nash’s Pixel Noir tells the story of a cursed video game cartridge and the young man who was fated to discover it. The EP transmits all the feelings of supernatural terror and adventure that permeate the story, carrying listeners into another world. Russell Nash’s production interweaves with Jessy Mach’s guitar playing to add musical depth.

“Mainframe mirage” comes to life as an intensely flaring synth is broken by hard-hitting orchestral pulses. The oscillating background shines with intense light as 8-bit notes flicker and the main melody flies out with uplifting positivity, skipping past with youthful joy as the cadence drives forward.

Quickly trembling notes volley as the track launches with another explosive 8-bit pulse. Jessy Mach weaves a melody that captures the excitement and vitality of young life. The unfolding melody on guitar creates a feeling of thrilling freedom in me.

Beneath the guitar, the drums punch forward with irrepressible strength. The guitar soars upward as the cascading synth sparkles. The solo is full of bubbly energy, fluently and intricately flowing from Jessy Mach’s fingers. Orchestral hits ricochet hard again as the guitar cascades with speedy dynamism while the sublayer surges through the music. Another flurry of orchestra hits and shimmering 8-bit tones leads into a final guitar burst, exploding with youthful exuberance before the track ends.

Widely floating tones drift with serenity while a smooth drum beat throbs with steady ease to kick off “Arcadia electronics.” Opalescent clouds swell from the soft-edged synth while solar brightness breaks like blue sky from behind the billows. The undergirding is a silky heartbeat while the main synth glows with the intensity of a single shaft of light piercing through a misty veil.

As the track evolves, the luscious-sounding synth intermingles with Jessy Mach's heartfelt playing, creating a sense of deep calm within me. The lead synth shimmers with uplifting luminosity, like dappled sunlight falling on the ground. The guitar fills me with unbreakable joy as it climbs the sky with intertwining sounds. Like sunlight in the breaking dawn, the track slips to an end.

“Pixel Noir” commences with a pounding kick drum and an exciting, darkly shaded synth descending rapidly. The minor key melody has a ghostly sensation as the bursting bass presses forward and an ominous choir cries out. The synth part is leaping and full of impending doom while the choir adds more haunting feeling.

A ticking percussive pulse moves along with the melody, filling the music with waiting fear. Russell Nash's guitar churns into the track with a solo heavy with dread that slashes like razor claws. The main melody washes with a presence like an illuminated ghost in the twilight.

A steadily cutting sound shifts while the guitar solo explodes with purposeful, seething dynamics as the battering drums push hard. Jessy Mach demonstrates his absolute skill, exciting me with his performance while the synth levitates and the bottom pulse churns. As the track ends, the main melody imbues the music with enigmatic darkness and the choir closes the track out.

Bells briefly burst and fade as the rhythm pushes forcefully to open “Jared.” Bells trickle with diamond delicacy while the guitar begins to grow underneath and the drums pulse. The metallic chiming tones carry a mysterious melody as the arpeggios continue to swirl in active lines. The cruising drums flow along as the guitar moves with razor-blade sharpness.

As the rhythmic pattern drives, chimes wink like far-off stars while the pounding bass heartbeat shifts. Now Jessy Mach plays an evocative, emotional solo that unfolds with a sense of deep feeling and complexity. The pumping drums guide while the guitar flares with affecting energy. Once again, the chimes float with a haunting sensation as the underpinnings drive and the trickling notes create anticipation before the track stops.

“Outrun the danger” starts as brilliantly glowing tones move with a hollow, pan-pipe-like melody that tumbles and flickers above the rushing low end. A dramatic guitar melody cries out, mingling adventure with danger. The pulsing drum pattern adds shape while the pipe-like synth creates a dynamic feeling as the nasal, ragged-edged synth leaps actively and the guitar adds gruff sound in the distance.

Tension radiates from the pan-pipe tones as the guitar flies again, conveying a sense of escape and approaching resolution in a way that grabs hold of me. The low, cutting synth joins with the elevated notes to heighten the music. Now the guitar solo unwinds with intricacy and abandon, transmitting darkness and strength as it explodes wildly. I enjoy the passion within this track before the drums flourish again and the main melody adds drama before silence falls.